TWI302789B - Wireless bridge with beam-switching antenna arrays and method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Ϊ302789

- Sanda number: TW2199PA Nine, invention description: [Technical field of invention] According to the invention, (four) in a wireless bridge, with no other communication ^ especially (four) in a beam switching antenna array: - A wireless bridge that is automatically calibrated and used to communicate with another wireless bridge. [Prior Art] • Wireless local area network, such as WLAN (Wireless Area Network Wireless)

Local Area Ne cut ork/Wlreless LAN, hereinafter referred to as wun) The 802.U specification is becoming more and more popular in modern times because it provides an air interface to multiple wireless client devices and requires no wiring and is easy to install. The base station of the wireless area network has a service range of approximately one hundred meters. Suppose a larger service area is needed, such as a link between two buildings, two wireless bridges can be installed separately for each building and connected to the regional network of the corresponding building, resulting in two regional networks. Roads can be connected via wireless _ bridging.

Figure 1 depicts a traditional point-to-point wireless bridge. The wireless bridge 100 includes a phased antenna 110, transmission/reception switching crying (T/R switch^, power amplifier (10) 13 〇, low noise amplifier (LM) 140' transceiver 150, baseband processor/MAC (BBp/) MAC) 16〇, and indicator 170. The phased line and line 110 have narrower and more concentrated beams, and are therefore suitable for point-to-point transmission. However, the beam of the phased antenna 110 is narrower, so it is not easy to Another wireless bridge is allowed. Therefore, the wireless network bridge 1 is traditionally configured to display 1302789. The TW2199PA indicates whether the two wireless bridges are aligned, the antenna core, σσ 70. Even if multiple factors such as wireless bridges change over time = two-way two because of the wind blowing 'vibration realignment' is very inconvenient and between waves (four). 'Need to be manual' [invention] In view of this, the object of the present invention is to provide A configurable wireless network bridge. According to the purpose of this month, a wireless bridge is proposed to communicate with another |L bridge, including multiple phase antennas, antenna selectors, and receivers. "I = mother phase Generating - the beam and from the other - wireless bridge pure tiger, wherein the beams are partially overlapping in angle. The antenna selector is connected to the phase antenna, and the received signals are compared and selected as the main antenna from the phased antennas In the array, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSI) of the received signal of the main antenna array is the largest compared with the received signal strength of the received signal of the other phased antenna. The transceiver transmits/receives through the main antenna array. This is accomplished by providing a method of beam switching in a wireless bridge that includes the following steps: (a) This method first broadly scans each phased antenna to obtain from another wireless bridge. Received signal strength. (b) Next, select at least two phased antennas as a candidate antenna group, wherein the received signal strength of the phased antennas in the candidate antenna group is relatively south. (c) Selecting the largest The phase antenna of the received signal strength is used as the main antenna array, whereby the main antenna array transmits/receives 1302789

^达编号: The action of TW2199PA. (d) If the receive-schedule event is detected, the received signal strength of the received signal tiger is obtained by scanning the phased antenna in the candidate antenna group to re-select the primary antenna array. (e) If a weak signal event is received, the primary antenna array is reselected by repeating steps (a) through (c). The above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the aspects of the appended claims. A block diagram of a wireless bridge in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The Wireless Bridge 2 is used to communicate with another wireless bridge (not shown) to facilitate the connection of the two regional networks. The wireless bridge 200 includes a plurality of phase antennas 21〇, a transmit/receive (T/R) switch 220, a power amplifier (power AmpUf ier, pA) 23〇, and a low noise amplification (Low Noise Amplifier, lna) 240. , transceiver 250, baseband processor/MAC (BBP/MAC) 260 and antenna selector. The antenna selector includes a selection unit 270 and an antenna switch 275. The wireless bridge 200 utilizes a phased antenna in that the beam is more concentrated and suitable for point-to-point transmission. Each of the phased antennas 210 produces a beam to receive or transmit signals from the other wireless bridge to another wireless bridge. The antenna selector is electrically connected to the phased antenna 210 and is selected as the primary antenna array. The transmit/receive switch 220 determines whether the transmission or reception is performed. When transmitting, the transmit/receive switch 220 outputs a signal, which is the baseband processor/MAC 260 via the transceiver 250, the power amplifier 23 〇 .1302789

'Sanda number: the signal output by TW2199PA' is transmitted in the selected primary antenna array. When receiving, the transmit/receive switch 220 receives a signal from the primary antenna array and outputs it to the power amplifier 230. * Corresponding to the received signal strength (RSSI) or control signal c transmitted from the baseband processor/MAC (BBP/MAC) 260, the selection unit 270 selects one of the phased antennas 210 as the primary antenna array. And the antenna switch 275 is switched to this primary antenna array. The control signal c is generated based on a schedule of events, that is, at every predetermined time interval. In the present embodiment, the received signal strength (RSSI) is selected from the round-out of the low noise amplifier (LNA) 240. The nematic antenna 21 of the wireless bridge 200 produces a beam coverage that is wide enough to make it easier to align with another wireless bridge. The antenna selection port can be implemented by a Field-pr〇grammabie Gate Array (FPGA) to flexibly change the standard of the beam switching. Figure 3 is a flow chart of the beam switching method. First, in step 31, the wide-area scans all the nematic antennas 21〇 and tests them from other non-Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs).

The received signal strength of the signal received by the line bridge. The received signal strength can be output from the output of the low noise amplifier 240 or from the baseband processor/MAC (BBP/MAC) 260. Next, in step 315, two phased antennas 21 having the first and second largest received signal strengths are selected as candidate antenna groups. It must be noted that the number of phased antennas of the 'waiting antenna group is not limited to two, and it is assumed that three are feasible. Thereafter, in step 318, the phase in the candidate antenna group is quickly scanned 1302789

- Sanda number: TW2199PA The received signal strength of the signal received by antenna 210. Then, in step 32, 'the nematic antenna 21 having the maximum received signal strength is selected as the main antenna array. Thereafter, as shown in step 325, the receive/transmit actions are transmitted through the primary antenna barrier. The wireless bridge 200 is thus connected and aligned by the primary antenna array to another wireless bridge. As shown in step 330, if a weak signal event is received, steps 310-320 are repeated to select a new primary antenna array, otherwise step 332 is performed. • Weak signal events are generated based on the received signal of the main antenna array. • Received signai drength indlcator (RSSI), low signal quality (signal quality), low connection port (link) Quality), or low quality of service (qUaiity 〇f service, Q〇S) ° When in step 332, if a scheduling event is received, then in step 318, the phased antenna 21〇 in the candidate antenna group is quickly scanned for Get the received signal strength of the received signal. Then, as shown in step 325, the phased antenna 210 having the maximum received signal strength is reselected as the primary antenna array. For example, a schedule event can be generated at predetermined time intervals. Since the number of phased antennas 21 in the antenna group is small, the time taken to perform the fast sweep field is shorter than that of the wide area scan. 9 Refer to Figure 4A, which is a beam diagram of the first phased antenna. The number of phased antennas 210 is seven, and the total coverage angle is 90 degrees. Therefore, its beam width is 9 / / 7 = 12 · 875 degrees. In particular, the total coverage angle rarely exceeds 12 degrees and the single beam width is rarely smaller than 5 degrees to compensate for the lack of array systems; the number of phased antennas is greater than 3 10 1302789

‘ Sanda number: TW2199PA is greater or much greater than 3 to obtain a comparison between the wide-area scanning and fast-scanning views. Please refer to FIG. 4B, which is a beam schematic of a second phased antenna. There are a total of five J antennas 210, and the total coverage angle is 30 degrees. Therefore, its beam width is 30 degrees/5 = 6 degrees. Compared to the first type of beam, although the total coverage angle is narrower, the second type of beam can be more correctly aligned to another wireless bridge due to its narrow beamwidth. The wireless bridge with the beam switching antenna disclosed in the above embodiments of the present invention and the method thereof can automatically align with another wireless bridge without manual control, so that it is very easy and convenient to obtain the best signal quality. In view of the above, the present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, and is not intended to limit the invention, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. And the scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims. 11 1302789

, Sanda number: TW2199PA [Simple description of the diagram] Figure 1 shows a conventional wireless bridge. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a wireless bridge in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 shows a flow chart of the beam switching method. Figure 4A shows a schematic diagram of the beam of the first phased antenna. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing the beam of the second phased antenna. [Main component symbol description] 100 : Wireless bridge 110 : Phase antenna 120 : Transmit/receive switch 130 · Power amplifier 140 : Low noise amplifier 150 : Transceiver

• 160 · Fundamental processing ^§/MAC

170 : Indicator 200 : Wireless bridge 210 : Phased antenna 220 · · Transmit/receive switch 230 : Power amplifier 240 : Low noise amplifier 250 : Transceiver 260 : Base frequency processor / MAC 12 1302789

- Sanda number: TW2199PA 270: Select unit 2 7 5 : Antenna switcher

Claims (1)

1302789 'Sanda number: TW219卯A X. Application patent scope: Line bridge' communicates with another-wireless bridge, including: - Yi H column antenna, each phase antenna system produces - beam and from another. Bridging ϋ receive-signal, wherein the beam groups are partially rich in angle; a second antenna selector, the antenna selector is connected to the phase-aligned antennas, and comparing the received signals from the phase-aligned antennas Alternatively, as a main day φ line array; transmitting and receiving as an operation of transmitting/receiving via the main antenna array; wherein 'the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of the signal received by the main antenna array is followed by The signal received by a phased antenna is the largest. 2. The wireless bridge of claim 1, further comprising a media access controller (MedioUm Access Controller) for controlling the transceiver. 3. The wireless bridge of claim 1, wherein the antenna selector reselects the primary antenna array in response to a weak signal event, the weak signal event being based on the received signal of the primary antenna array A low received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a low signal quality (signal quality), a low connection quality (Hnk qUaiity), or a low service mouth (quality of Service, QoS) 〇 4. The wireless bridge as described in claim i, where 14 Ί 302789 达达: TW2199PA generated by the inter-solids interval-scheduled event, the antenna selects the milk to reselect the primary antenna Array. 5. A method of beam switching, for use in a wireless bridge comprising a plurality of phase columns, 1 , the method comprising the following steps: · Wide area scanning each of the phased antennas to obtain from another - wireless bridge Received signal strength; (b) Select at least two phase-array antennas as candidate antennas, in the beans _ The received signal strength of the phased antenna in the antenna group is higher; one (c) selects - the phased antenna with the maximum received signal strength as a primary antenna array, which is transmitted by the primary antenna array (d) receiving a scheduled event to the right, by scanning the phased antenna in the candidate antenna group, obtaining the received signal strength of the received signal to reselect the primary antenna array; and (e) if Upon receiving a weak signal event, the primary antenna array is reselected by repeating steps (a) through (c). 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the weak signal event is generated according to a condition that the received signal of the primary antenna array is: a received signai strength indicator (RSSI), a Low signal quality (signai qUai ity), a low link quality (link quality), or a low quality of service (QoS) 〇 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the schedule Events occur at every predetermined time interval. 15